Game of Thrones premiere sets piracy record

[CZroe]

I've seen multiple posts implying that cablecos pay HBO or subsidize it to keep it exclusive.

That's just not how it works. When you subscribe to HBO, both the cableco and HBO make money from you. It's not "subsidized." It's the way cable TV was originally supposed to work: You pay for the channels you want and you don't have to deal with advetisements.

Now, "premium" cable networks are the only ones that work the way cable was originally meant to work. Your expanded / digital lineup have overwhelming commercial advertisements. Movie content is edited-out so they can fit more.

HBO hasn't given people an online-only option; this isn't only because TV service providers wouldn't like that. It's also because HBO would be afraid to piss-off their primary revenue stream. The way their contracts have been negotiated for years and years, back-stabbing the TV MSOs could ruin HBO if they don't do it the right way.

What's worse is that if they went for every "expand the audience while lowering the cost" opportunity they would eventually be riddled with ads like everything else.

 

[Arkaign]

I tried to like GoT, but I just don't very much, outside of Tyrion I universally loathe the characters for being either complete idiots or complete aholes, and usually both. Pretty scenery though.

Maybe when the series is complete or cancelled I'll give it a quick runthrough in a few years. At least the production quality is adequate. It seems like HBO has dialed back the quality for most things, maybe due to economics? Band of Brothers, Rome, they used to be over the top and better than most big budget films in production quality. Now I watch an episode of True Blood and it looks like a SciFi production At least Boardwalk Empire is pretty solid, so there's that.

 

[Fingolfin269]

Downloading a copy.

Duh.

You can't steal something if the original owner still has the thing you "stole".

I steal your wife's purse...she doesn't have it anymore.
I make a copy of your wife's purse....she still has her purse.


I pay for HBO anyway. So, in my mind...I can have this download because I paid for it already.

OK, so let's take this a step further. I understand your argument. It is not truly 'stealing' in the sense of the word at it has always been defined. There is no tangible loss directly related to the reduction of someone's available inventory.

I also have no problem with someone downloading a copy if they pay for HBO.

But do you think it's ok for someone who doesn't pay for HBO to just download a copy the day the show is released just because they think they should get to watch it for free? It's not stealing, we already agreed on that. What is it?

 

[Red Storm]

OK, so let's take this a step further. I understand your argument. It is not truly 'stealing' in the sense of the word at it has always been defined. There is no tangible loss directly related to the reduction of someone's available inventory.

I also have no problem with someone downloading a copy if they pay for HBO.

But do you think it's ok for someone who doesn't pay for HBO to just download a copy the day the show is released just because they think they should get to watch it for free? It's not stealing, we already agreed on that. What is it?

I think the problem is that people always compare to a physical item and copying it.

When you buy a video game, you aren't actually buying a physical game, you're pretty much buying the right or license to play the game. So when you pirate a game, you're "stealing" that right/license which normally costs money to obtain.

 

[Soundmanred]

OK, so let's take this a step further. I understand your argument. It is not truly 'stealing' in the sense of the word at it has always been defined. There is no tangible loss directly related to the reduction of someone's available inventory.

I also have no problem with someone downloading a copy if they pay for HBO.

But do you think it's ok for someone who doesn't pay for HBO to just download a copy the day the show is released just because they think they should get to watch it for free? It's not stealing, we already agreed on that. What is it?

I already answered that.

 

[Fingolfin269]

I already answered that.

Is your name SheHateMe?

 

[HumblePie]

Want to know what sucks? I bought the blu-rays for season 1 and season 2 and still can't watch them on my computers blu-ray. Their DRM software completely stops my computer from playing the discs. I can play them fine in my PS or blu-ray player though on my TV. but sometimes I want to watch something on my computer instead.

 

[Soundmanred]

Is your name SheHateMe?

No. No, man. Shit, no, man. I believe you'd get your ass kicked sayin' something like that, man.

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0046033/

 

[AstroManLuca]

OK, so let's take this a step further. I understand your argument. It is not truly 'stealing' in the sense of the word at it has always been defined. There is no tangible loss directly related to the reduction of someone's available inventory.

I also have no problem with someone downloading a copy if they pay for HBO.

But do you think it's ok for someone who doesn't pay for HBO to just download a copy the day the show is released just because they think they should get to watch it for free? It's not stealing, we already agreed on that. What is it?

Freeloading.

The problem is that it's impossible to quantify the actual loss (as in, lost sales) caused by piracy. You can't do that without reading people's minds.

For every 10 people who download a movie, TV show, or song without paying, maybe 1 or 2 of them would have paid for it if piracy was impossible. Or maybe 5 of them would have. There's just no way to know.

I think you can make a reasonable assumption, though, that the number of lost sales goes down as cost increases. Who doesn't have $1 that they could spend on a song they like? If piracy was impossible, plenty of would-be downloaders would just cough up the buck it takes to get a song they like.

Subtract "habitual pirates," people who download everything and don't buy anything at all, because some people just don't spend money on these things no matter what. Also, subtract anyone who is unable to legitimately buy something even if they want to - mostly people in countries who don't have access to whatever service is necessary to buy.

HBO is a bit different since it's so expensive to get - you have to pay for cable or satellite TV service with all the associated activation fees and so on, you might have to pay extra for HD, and then you have to pay for HBO. Even if you just sign up right as GoT starts and immediately cancel everything once the season ends, it's still several hundred dollars (assuming there are no early termination fees!).

I don't think HBO really loses many sales due to piracy. Because of the very high cost, few people would actually be willing to sign up for TV service and HBO on top of it.

 

[Fingolfin269]

No. No, man. Shit, no, man. I believe you'd get your ass kicked sayin' something like that, man.

That's awesome. Now I need to watch that movie.

 

[vi edit]

I just want to say that I was quite impressed for what I got when I bought season 2 on Blu Ray. Not only did I get the season on Blu Ray, but I also got the DVD version and the Digital Copy version for $25 from Fry's on the release. That's a great value for 10 hours of well produced, premium television.

 

[lxskllr]

Want to know what sucks? I bought the blu-rays for season 1 and season 2 and still can't watch them on my computers blu-ray. Their DRM software completely stops my computer from playing the discs. I can play them fine in my PS or blu-ray player though on my TV. but sometimes I want to watch something on my computer instead.

That's what happens when you buy locked items without the tools to break the locks.

Where's the corporatist outrage for your rights that have been infringed? Who's gonna go to court on your behalf, and how will you collect damages? Fuck those companies. They cry big crocodile tears about how they're going broke, and can't afford to create shit due to "piracy", yet they keep creating more shit. Awfully generous of them taking one for the team. They should get a fuckin' Nobel prize or something :^S

 

[TastesLikeChicken]

Downloading a copy.

Duh.

You can't steal something if the original owner still has the thing you "stole".

I steal your wife's purse...she doesn't have it anymore.
I make a copy of your wife's purse....she still has her purse.

Using that reasoning...If you had a great idea for a product, partnered with someone to produce it, and they ended up taking that idea as their own and made millions, they didn't actually steal your idea?

After all, you'd still have your original idea so it couldn't actually have been stolen. Amirite?

 

[Pray To Jesus]

HBO programming president Michael Lombardo told Entertainment Weekly recently that the network sees the piracy of "Game of Thrones" as a sign of success more than a problem.

"I probably shouldn't be saying this, but it is a compliment of sorts," Lombardo said ahead of the season 3 premier. "The demand is there. And it certainly didn't negatively impact the DVD sales. [Piracy is] something that comes along with having a wildly successful show on a subscription network."

It's HBO policy to fight piracy of its shows, particularly when it finds people illegally selling episodes of its shows, but the network isn't going after individual viewers, Lombardo said: "We haven't sent out the Game of Thrones police."

What's this? Smart network execs? No way!

 

[vi edit]

HBO was also on record of considering HBO Go to non-cable TV subscribers so long as they were on a cable provided internet connection. Seems like a halfway compromise to somewhat appease the cable companies since they are still making money off the ISP side of things and potentially any data overages.

 

[Pray To Jesus]

Downloading a copy.

Duh.

You can't steal something if the original owner still has the thing you "stole".

I steal your wife's purse...she doesn't have it anymore.
I make a copy of your wife's purse....she still has her purse.


I pay for HBO anyway. So, in my mind...I can have this download because I paid for it already.

Good for you numbnuts.

 

[AstroManLuca]

Good for you numbnuts.

You aren't a very good Christian.

 

[SheHateMe]

Using that reasoning...If you had a great idea for a product, partnered with someone to produce it, and they ended up taking that idea as their own and made millions, they didn't actually steal your idea?

After all, you'd still have your original idea so it couldn't actually have been stolen. Amirite?

That is not even the same situation. How is downloading a copy of GoT like Zuckerberg stealing (and this is debatable) the idea of Facebook from those twins?

I think you need to try a different comparison.

But sure, if you had a great idea for a product and you didn't patent the idea before you showed that idea to someone else (who you were paying to produce it...meaning you didn't have the skills to do it yourself) and they patented it first...that is your fault...you gave your idea away without protecting it first.and you can't do a thing about it because you fucked up. Kind of like how Graham Bell turned in his patent application for the telegraph before that other guy and became a legend. You snooze, you lose, I guess.

HBO is most likely not losing a single thing over GoT piracy. You know movie studios and such reported billion dollar turnovers last year? That's with that Piracy they keep saying is crippling movie sales. Even game developers are realizing that pirates are simply potential customers if you approach them the right way. Look at Hotline Miami, its an indie game and was being pirated on thepiratebay, one of the devs went to TPB to address some complaints in the comments about the game not working properly. Not only did he help people alleviate these issues...but he gave them free keys to the game.

Nobody is stealing ideas, innovation is not being killed. HBO is fueling the piracy of their own show and I'm sure they know it...and it doesn't seem like they care

Good for you numbnuts.

After you sucked me dry the last time, I haven't been able to feel a thing down there. You have a good set of jaws on you. Its always the bible thumpers that are the freakiest. I want you to try putting a little Nutella on it next time.

 

[Ichinisan]

I just want to say that I was quite impressed for what I got when I bought season 2 on Blu Ray. Not only did I get the season on Blu Ray, but I also got the DVD version and the Digital Copy version for $25 from Fry's on the release. That's a great value for 10 hours of well produced, premium television.

This.

I got the Collector's Edition Season 1 set for only $40 from Amazon, and didn't watch anything until after I bought the Season 2 BD set (some Target-exclusive bundle). I ended-up using only the iTunes digital copy for S1 and part of S2. With the digital copy, I used Apple TV streaming directly from Apple, and sometimes streamed downloaded episodes via AirPlay from iPad mini and iPhone 5 (to avoid buffering). The experience was nearly perfect. Watching 20 hours of content and hopping around to 3 different locations, the only trouble I had was a couple buffering hiccups in the middle of one episode (probably attributable to Internet instability at that location).

Probably one of the best entertainment values I've gotten for the price. That's a LOT of content.

 

[effowe]

Want to know what sucks? I bought the blu-rays for season 1 and season 2 and still can't watch them on my computers blu-ray. Their DRM software completely stops my computer from playing the discs. I can play them fine in my PS or blu-ray player though on my TV. but sometimes I want to watch something on my computer instead.

Get MakeMKV.

http://www.makemkv.com

Rip 1080p MKV's for free. If the files are too big, convert them with handbrake for little noticeable quality loss.

http://handbrake.fr

Enjoy.

 

[Aikouka]

When it comes to the Blu-Rays, I've noticed that you probably want to buy them at release, because they seem to rarely go on sale afterward. For example, here's Game of Thrones season 1, and to be clear, I've included the original release and the new one:

http://camelcamelcamel.com/Game-Thrones-Complete-Discontinued-Blu-ray/product/B003Y5HWMW
http://camelcamelcamel.com/Game-Thrones-Complete-Season-Blu-ray/product/B008CLI3TE

$34.99 was the cheapest price for the first version of the first season at Amazon, and that was prior to release.

 

[BladeVenom]

It's not stealing, we already agreed on that. What is it?

Copyright infringement, or if you prefer the slang term, piracy.

 

[shortylickens]

Just checked kickass.

54 thousand seeds. Quite impressive.

 

[TastesLikeChicken]

That is not even the same situation. How is downloading a copy of GoT like Zuckerberg stealing (and this is debatable) the idea of Facebook from those twins?

I think you need to try a different comparison.

I was addressing your claim that "You can't steal something if the original owner still has the thing you "stole"."

Clearly you can.

But sure, if you had a great idea for a product and you didn't patent the idea before you showed that idea to someone else (who you were paying to produce it...meaning you didn't have the skills to do it yourself) and they patented it first...that is your fault...you gave your idea away without protecting it first.and you can't do a thing about it because you fucked up. Kind of like how Graham Bell turned in his patent application for the telegraph before that other guy and became a legend. You snooze, you lose, I guess.

HBO is most likely not losing a single thing over GoT piracy. You know movie studios and such reported billion dollar turnovers last year? That's with that Piracy they keep saying is crippling movie sales. Even game developers are realizing that pirates are simply potential customers if you approach them the right way. Look at Hotline Miami, its an indie game and was being pirated on thepiratebay, one of the devs went to TPB to address some complaints in the comments about the game not working properly. Not only did he help people alleviate these issues...but he gave them free keys to the game.

Nobody is stealing ideas, innovation is not being killed. HBO is fueling the piracy of their own show and I'm sure they know it...and it doesn't seem like they care.

HBO isn't fueling anything. Pirates and people who seem to think that it is their absolute right to do anything they wish with media content are fueling piracy.

The entire shitstorm didn't start because companies like HBO implemented some sort of DRM restrictions, which then pissed people off so they searched for a way around it. People starting stealing content purely to avoid paying for it so media companies began searching for ways to protect that content. If it wasn't for the dishonest, unethical knobjobs none of us would have to suffer through DRM and the associated problems it creates today. Stop blaming the companies and place the blame squarely where it belongs or else you're putting the cart before the horse.

 

[AstroManLuca]

The entire shitstorm didn't start because companies like HBO implemented some sort of DRM restrictions, which then pissed people off so they searched for a way around it. People starting stealing content purely to avoid paying for it so media companies began searching for ways to protect that content. If it wasn't for the dishonest, unethical knobjobs none of us would have to suffer through DRM and the associated problems it creates today. Stop blaming the companies and place the blame squarely where it belongs or else you're putting the cart before the horse.

No, but HBO has implemented a system whereby you must subscribe to multiple expensive monthly services that include all sorts of things that many people don't even want just to legitimately watch their show. That's actually more frustrating than dealing with DRM.

It would be like if Steam required you to pay them a monthly fee, and also required you to purchase a gym membership from a particular gym, and also get a cell phone service, and only then could you play any of their games.

You can't just "pay for" Game Of Thrones. You have to pay for all sorts of other shit that you may not want at all in order to see it. If you had read the thread you'd see there are many people who would be willing to pay for Game Of Thrones. There are lots of people who bought the DVDs when they came out (which was like, a year after the episodes aired).

I'm not saying that downloading GoT is "right," but the situation is totally different from how you portray it.